Paragliding and Paralpinism launch sites

Aiguilles Rouges region

♦ Planpraz launch site

- GPS : N 45° 56' 08' E 006° 51' 18'
- Direction : South and North East
- Altitude : 2 000 m
- Vertical drop : 1 000 m
- Access : Planpraz gondola & ten mins walk uphill from the lift station.
Chamonix Railway station (SNCF) + 15 mins by foot.
- Site details/ equipment : Club info board and windstock.
- Registered FFVL site - Remote FFVL weather station, summitof le Brévent 500 m above launch.

Flight conditions : The site is useable from 8 am through to early afternoon.

Dangers / Difficulties
- To the left out from take off there are the Brevent cable car cables. Keep to the right & pass under the cables with a good margin.
- Once the conditions have become thermic, good pilot skill is required.
- Be aware that with West or North dominant weather winds in excess of 20 kph at 2 000 m you are flying in lee side conditions & can expect strong, turbulent conditions.
- For XC flights towards the Flegere, beware of horizontal cables for the Brevent - Flegere cable car in the Combe Lachenal at approx 1 700 m ASL.

Ability : Supervised beginner to XC pilot.

Landing field : Bois du Bouchet.
The landing field is not visible from launch. Be sure to visit the landing before taking the gondola. An emergency landing field is available at Clos du Savoy (turbulent with strong valley winds).

Specific rules :
- The Bois du Bouchet & Clos du Savoy fields are forbidden when there is snow on them (they become ski & XC ski pistes). Due to this the only available landing is the hang glider field at Bois du Bouchet (enclosed & turbulent) see the notice boards or local pilots for the exact dates of the restriction.
- Above the highest ridge to the right (W / NW) of launch, overflying at less than 1000 m above ground level is forbidden, Aiguilles Rouges nature reserve.

♦ Flegere & Index launch site

- GPS: N 45° 58' 06.6' E 006° 52' 33.4'
- Direction : south to East
- Altitude : 2 350 m
- Vertical drop : 1 350 m
- Access : Flegere cablecar & chairlift, + 5 mins walk to take off situated beneath old lift station or alternatively on the piste (not winter).
• Les Praz railway station (SNCF) + 5 mins by foot.
- Site details/ equipment : windsock.
- FFVL site registration in progress.

Flight conditions: the site is useable from 8 am through to end of the morning.

Dangers / Difficulties:
- To the right out from take off there are the chairlift cables.
- Once the conditions have become thermic, good pilot skill is required.
- Be aware that with West or North prevailing weather winds in excess of 20 kph at 2000m you are flying in lee side conditions & can expect strong, turbulent conditions.
- The landing areas are upwind (against the valley wind) and are difficult to attain when the wind is strong.

Ability : supervised beginner to XC pilot.

Landing field : Bois du Bouchet.
The landing field is not visible from launch. Be sure to visit the landing before going to take off. An emergency landing field is available at Bois du
Bouchet hang glider landing field.

Specific rules :
- The Bois du Bouchet paraglider & Clos du Savoy fields are forbidden when there is snow on them (they become ski & XC ski pistes). Due to this the
only available landing is the hang glider (Delta) field at Bois du Bouchet (enclosed & turbulent) see the notice boards or local pilots for the exact dates
of the restriction.
- Above the ridges behind & to the left of take off (N - N.E.)of launch,overflying at less than 1 000 m above ground level is forbidden : Aiguilles Rouges nature reserve.
- Summer 2008 ski lift construction work at Planpraz - beware of helicopters around this area.
- Check with pg schools or at the Club chalet (Bois du Bouchet landing field) for any special rules affecting the landing fields as they may occasionally be used for civic functions.
Variation: lower take off point (E - S facing) , situated on a corner of the piste ax 200 m below. This take off is useful when the prevailing wind
prevents launch at Index or if clouds obscure the usual launch area.

 Aiguille du Midi region

♦ Plan de l'Aiguille launch site

- GPS : N 45° 54' 17' E 006° 52' 59'
- Direction : West & North East
- Altitude : 2 233 m - Vertical drop : 1 233 m
- Access : 1 st stage of the Aiguille du Midi cablecar. 5 mins walk down beneath the cablecar. Chamonix Railway station (SNCF) + 10 mins by foot.
- Site details/ equipment : windsock and streamers.
- FFVL registered site.

Flight conditions :
The site works from the beginning of the afternoon to evening. Thermal breezes and thermodynamic conditions or light Westerly winds.
 

Dangers / Difficulties :
Once thermal conditions have become established, good launch technique is required as the wind can be strong. High tension electricity cables to the left of launch. Cable car cables to the right of launch & further away to the left for the second stage of the cable car. The launch has been remodelled (2007), please respect any signposted instructions so that the grass may grow on the new take off.

Ability : supervised beginner to XC pilot.

Landing field : bois du Bouchet. The landing field is not visible from launch. Be sure to visit the landing before going to take off. In winter landing field is avilable at Bois du Bouchet hand glider landing field.

Variations :
during the winter, it's possible to launch to the North east by walking two mins lower to the foot of the small gondola pylon. The take off is almost flat and requires good technique. Do not use this launch if the wind is sustained as you are launching into an inclosed valley that can generate turbulence. This launch is very technical/dangerous once the snow has melted as there are many boulders.

Specific rules :
Forbidden to launch or overfly in July & August by ministerial order

 

Aiguillette des Houches region

♦ Merlet launch site

- GPS : N 45° 54' 41' E 006° 49' 09'
- Direction : South to South West
- Altitude : 1 600 m - Vertical drop : 600 m
- Access : By car travelling from Les Houches ; route de Coupeau towards the Merlet animal park.-10 mins walk following the signs for the footpath to "Aiguillette des Houches".Les Houches Railway station (SNCF) + 2 hours by foot.
- Site details/ equipment : Club info board and windstock.
- FFVL registered site.

Flight conditions :
End of the afternoon site. Thermodynamic and restitution conditions.

Dangers / Difficulties :
Inflating the glider is often awkward as the launch is on a camber and the slope drops away quickly causing a small rotor on the ground where the glider is
prepared. The aerology of the site is somewhat unusual in the thermodynamic conditions. The whole site is at the limit of a large rotor generated by the plateau of Coupeau (situated to the right of take off) - avoid this zone. To the left of take off the Western shoulder of the Merlet animal park offers
good soaring conditions.

Ability : Autonomous to XC pilot.

Landing site :
Cachat gravel pits. Beware the landing is very technical and the landing area is not always clear due to works in the gravel pit.

Specific rules :
Avoid flying over the animal park so as to avoid scaring the animals and causing conflicts with the owners.
 

Prarion region

♦ Grand Prarion region

- GPS :N 45° 53'46' E 006° 44'62'
- Direction : West.
- Altitude : 1 900 m
- Vertical drop : 1 300 m
- Access : From Les Houches Prarion gondola, follow the path marked Grand Prarion, turn directly right after leaving the cable car station, follow the path and stop after 30 minutes walking. The TO should be just on your left.Viaduc Ste Marie railway station + 5 mins by foot.
- Facilities : Tell tales / streamers in the trees.
- Registered FFVL site.

Flying conditions :
Beginning and the end of the afternoon, with a thermic breeze. You can also fly in a light Westerly prevailing wind.

Dangers / Difficulties :
- Small T.O with only room for 1 glider to lay out at a time.
- The take off is short and steep, beware there are often small bushes and rhododendrons growing on and at the end of the take off.
- Only possible to use the site if the breeze is directly on.
- Please do not spread out your wing if you do not intend to fly, as there is nowhere else for anyone to prepare.

Pilot Ability :
Beginner to XC.

Landing Zones :
Le Fayet, Passy-Marlioz (known as Batistock). Access via the road from Chedde, going towards Le Fayet. Variation is to land at the Chedde landing field.

Alternative :
Morning site (E facing) opposite the exit from the lift on the ski trail.
Forbidden during ski saison.
Landing area: Les Chavants, on a narrow strip running the length of the marshland.
This site is being developed , please check with the Club Gratte Ciel before flying.

High mountain - Paralpinism

The Mont Blanc range is particularly well suited to the combination of mountaineering and paragliding Para-Alpinism (Paralpinisme).
Beware, this discipline is very demanding. Before being able to fly from the
summit of a high altitude mountain you have to climb to the summit, to be able to climb to the summit you have to be an experienced mountaineer or alpinist. You have to be patient for both mountaineering and flying conditions to be correct before setting out.

♦ Les Grands Montets

- GPS : N 45° 56' 52' E 006° 57' 36'
- Direction : West - Altitude : 3 100 m - Vertical drop : 2 100 m
- Access : Cable car Lognan & Grands Montets (two stages) then 10 mins walk down from the lift station and across a glacier.
Attention, this high mountain glacier is not marked or surveyed & has numerous dangerous crevasses. Those not experienced in glaciers are strongly advised to either avoid this take off or to employ a high mountain guide. Argentiere railway station (SNCF) + 10 mins by foot.
- Site details / equipment : Streamers usually
present at take off.
- FFVL registered site.

Dangers / Difficulties :
A high altitude take off requiring a good physical condition.
High altitude aerology : the convective breezes may be strengthened by dominant weather winds. Clouds frequently form in front of the take off during the afternoon.
Be advised of the timing of the last cable car back to Argentiere ! Take off on glacier and airy feeling ! 

• Flight conditions : The site becomes usable from the beginning of the afternoon. Suitable inconvective breezes or light dominant winds (either anticyclonic or light Westerly winds).
There is no landing site in Argentiere. All the previous Argentiere landings are now completely forbidden. To help the local club with ongoing negotiations to re open these landings please do not land in Argentiere.

Ability :
Qualified (autonomous) pilot. Basic ideas of Alpinism or presence of Mountain Guide.

Landing site :
Bois du Bouchet, Chamonix. This landing is upwind of the take off and strong valley winds in the afternoon can make the glide difficult or impossible.

Emergency landing site :
Hang glider landing field (approx 200-m downwind of the Bois du Bouchet) but turbulent & enclosed when the valley wind is strong.

Specific rules
The flight path must avoid the Montenvers - Signal towards Plan de l'Aiguille area because of the helicopter base for the mountain rescue (permanent restriction). It must also avoid the Aiguilles Rouges sector (E facing slopes) above Argentiere and restricted zone in July & August.


♦ Aiguille du Midi launch

- GPS : N 45° 52' 52' E 006° 53' 50' (North take off)
- GPS : N45 52' 51' E006 53' 48' (South take off)
- Direction : North & South - Altitude : 3 700 m
- Vertical drop : 2 700 m
- Access : Aiguille du Midi cable car (two stages). 30 min descent along a vertiginous knife edge ridge necessitating use of crampons and preferably a rope. The takes offs are both situated on high mountain glaciers with crevasses. Mountaineering experience or the presence of a Mountain Guide is absolutely essential.
- Site details/ equipment : None.

Flight conditions :
Flyable throughout the day (beware of valley winds 2 000 m below), generally in
anticyclonic periods or with light North - North West winds or South winds. A worthwhile flight in winter months when access is slightly easier using the fixed ropes placed for skiers (crampons still useful).

Dangers / Difficulties :
High altitude take off requiring a good physical condition. Beware of the reduced lift at high altitude.
High Mountain aerology (weather winds increasing quickly-etc). Launch on a glacier, exposed feeling to takes offs - particularly on the North. Crevasses
beneath both takes offs. Snow conditions can considerably complicate take off run in light / zero winds. Be aware of the timing of the last cable car down (and allow sufficient time to climb back up to the lift station) if unable to launch.



Ability :
Autonomous pilot with excellent take off technique.

Landing area : Bois du Bouchet.

Specific rules :
Absolutely forbidden in July and August.



♦ Dômes de Miage launch

- Direction : North / North West
- Altitude : 3 600 m
- Vertical drop : 3 000 m
- Access : Glacial mountain route, difficulty : peu difficle (low difficulty). Consult a mountain guide for details.

• Flight conditions :
The possible take off areas at the summit are reduced because of the natural reserve the summit ridge. Take off is only permitted on the North facing side.
- Take Off 1 : "Le Col des Domes" ; a relatively "safe" take off if there is a Northerly breeze. The slope becomes very steep, very quickly.
- Take off 2 : "Le 3 ieme Dome" (The third dome), on the summit of the narrow ridge. Take off in the direction of St-Gervais. Launching further along the ridge is forbidden.


Dangers / Difficulties :
The take offs are steep and vertiginous. Once in the air, the flight is contrastingly straightforward.

Ability : Experienced paralpiniste.

Landing site : All the landing fields of the Montjoie valley. The greatest vertical descent is to the Passy-Marlioz site. Well appreciated for its simple aerology.

Specific rules :
The presence of the Contamines Montjoie Natural Reserve considerably constrains this flight - in particular by limiting launching beyond the third dome. Overflying of the Reserve is forbidden below 300 m above ground level. The site is a high altitude site that can be flown in July and August as it is outside of the forbidden zone.

 

♦ Mont-Blanc launch

- Direction : North, East to South West but impossible in West winds.
- Altitude : 4 810 m
- Vertical drop : approx 4 000 m
- Access : Normal routes : via Aiguille du Midi & the 3 Mont Blancs or by Le Gouter.
High altitude glacial mountain route "Peu Difficile +" Consult the various guide books or a mountain guide.


Flight conditions :
Anticyclonic conditions with a light North, South West or East wind (max 20 kph at 4 000 m). Be very wary - the capacity to make lucid judgements is considerably diminished by the lack of oxygen, fatigue and other affects of high altitude. Do not forget that the flight is 4 000 m drop and will take around 45 mins of descent. Everything must be considered before launch ; clouds, valley winds, thermal conditions, direction and strengths of the various air masses that will be encountered-etc.

Ability : Autonomous pilots with a very good level of mountaineering. Taking a guide who is also a paragliding instructor is highly recommended. It will help to give you every chance to be able to achieve this fantastic flight.

Landing site :
All the official Mt Blanc region landing fields are accessible from Mt Blanc but the Bois du Bouchet, Passy-Marlioz and Passy-Chedde sites are most recommended as they are the easiest to access.

Specific rules :
Strictly forbidden (by Ministerial decree) during 1st July to 31st August.